
This work develops a dedicated electrostatic framework for a canonical tetra-stranded hereditary polymer (Q-DNA), addressing the principal physical limitation of four-strand genome architectures: electrostatic repulsion between multiple negatively charged backbones. Extending nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann theory and ion-correlation models to tetra-stranded geometries, the manuscript analyzes how electrostatic interactions scale beyond duplex DNA and identifies regimes where mean-field screening breaks down. The study highlights the central role of multivalent cations, polyamines, solvent dielectric properties, and molecular crowding in stabilizing tetra-stranded assemblies through counterion condensation, correlation-induced attraction, and effective ion bridging. It predicts distinct ionic fingerprints for tetra-stranded states and defines electrostatic stability windows in which four-strand architectures become energetically favorable relative to duplex DNA. By formalizing electrostatics as a gating constraint on tetra-stranded heredity, this contribution provides quantitative and testable criteria for evaluating Q-DNA feasibility in synthetic genetics, controlled in-vitro systems, and alternative biochemical environments relevant to origins-of-life and astrobiology research. Resource type: theoretical manuscript / electrostatic model Intended audience: molecular biophysics, theoretical biology, synthetic genetics, and polyelectrolyte physics communities
Q-DNA tetra-stranded DNA four-stranded genome electrostatics polyelectrolyte theory Poisson–Boltzmann model nonlinear screening counterion condensation multivalent cations magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) potassium ions (K⁺) polyamines, ion correlations DNA condensation molecular crowding solvent effects molecular biophysics theoretical biology synthetic genetics astrobiology, Q-DNA tetra-stranded DNA four-stranded genome electrostatics polyelectrolyte theory Poisson–Boltzmann model nonlinear screening counterion condensation multivalent cations magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) potassium ions (K⁺) polyamines, ion correlations DNA condensation molecular crowding solvent effects molecular biophysics theoretical biology synthetic genetics astrobiology
Q-DNA tetra-stranded DNA four-stranded genome electrostatics polyelectrolyte theory Poisson–Boltzmann model nonlinear screening counterion condensation multivalent cations magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) potassium ions (K⁺) polyamines, ion correlations DNA condensation molecular crowding solvent effects molecular biophysics theoretical biology synthetic genetics astrobiology, Q-DNA tetra-stranded DNA four-stranded genome electrostatics polyelectrolyte theory Poisson–Boltzmann model nonlinear screening counterion condensation multivalent cations magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) potassium ions (K⁺) polyamines, ion correlations DNA condensation molecular crowding solvent effects molecular biophysics theoretical biology synthetic genetics astrobiology
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